November 18, 2009
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Earrings and Men???
I was asked how I can allow my son to have his earring.
Here are my thoughts. Please read and then feel free to share yours.There is nothing against it in the bible. W actually had his done right after he accepted The LordWe were in the middle of talking about how the Hebrew slaves who would choose to stay with their Hebrew masters after 7 years when the time of freedom would come would have their ear pierced to show that they were bondservants to the master and about how the bible talks about us being bondservants to Messiah.Judges 8:24 And Gideon said unto them, I would make a request of you, that ye would give me every man the ear-rings of his spoil. (For they had golden ear-rings, because they were Ishmaelites.)I think that God does not care whether man wears an ear ring or not… That really does not matter as long as the attitude is correct! Is it a sin to wear a tie? Sure not.. Everyone thinks that a tie adds to beautiful values. It is like a permitted thing. Is there really a difference between wearing a tie or an ear ring? No.Would God use an example of doing something He hates as a blessings?Ezekiel 1611 And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. 12 And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. 13 Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. 14 And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord God.There were men and women in the Bible who wore earrings (Exodus 32:2-3; Numbers 31:50; Judges 8:24; Song of Solomon 1:10-11). The Bible nowhere condemns an earring or earrings in women or men.The Bible says that both males and females among the people of Israel wore earrings at some point in history. As a result, it could not have been a sin.
“And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.” (Exodus 32:2) This was Aaron asking for gold with which to build the golden calf. It just shows that men wore earrings in the early days of the Jewish nation.
“And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.” (Exodus 35:22) Again this just shows that it was not uncommon for men to have earrings.
“And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels’ necks.” (Judges 8:25-26) This shows that other nations also wore earrings, apparently a lot of them.
Comments (17)
The only verse I have really looked at about piercings and stuff is
You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD – Leviticus 19:28
What do you think about that verse?
@Mac_Libureet - That is talking of the pagan practice of blood letting for mourning over the dead
The section you are looking at verses 26-28 the injunction against “rounding the hair at the temples (of your head”, or tearing out the hair of your beard, or gashing one’s self as a mourning practice, or getting tattooed.
Now all of these things were standard Canaanite cultural norms. God didn’t want them to do these things that the pagans were doing.
IT has nothing to do with earrings
@Kristenmomof3 - Very very very interesting!! Thank you!! God bless you
Well researched Kristen.
I see nothing wrong with piercings or tattoos.I have already decided that if one of my kids wanted something pierced i would get it for them but they know the rules about tattoos they have to wait till they’re 18 or it’s a very well thought out many years of wanting it tattoo.
I’ve known a couple guys with pierced ears…one of the associate pastors at our church, and my brother’s (former roommate / groomsman / co-worker).
I have no interest in piercing my ears, however.
No problems here! My son has no desire in the least to get anything pierced, but I promised my daughter I’d take her to get her nose pierced when she’s 16! (Can’t wait to get mine redone too! Grew in on me :p)
@mandamom2many - maybe this time the stone will stay where it belongs
HA! That would be nice!
Our church is actually going through a big fuss right now about wearing the wedding band. Mennonites traditionally don’t, but many of our people are increasingly working with the public, so it was brought us as a practical idea to have those who rub shoulders with the opposite sex, especially unbelievers, wear them while on the job. (My husband actually had an embarrassing incident recently when a lady asked him out!) The argument used in our church by those against it comes from the verse in 1 Peter 3:3,4. “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel… but let it be the hidden man of the heart.” I don’t agree with their theory, since, if we take the one point about gold literally, we also have to assume that we may not braid our hair or put on clothes!! However, I’m not sure how literally to take this verse- and where the distinctions are to be made.The disagreement in the church right now is that some brothers feel the wedding band does not constitute as jewelry, since it has a function- and the opposing brothers feel that any wearing of gold is unscriptural. I would love to hear your opinion on those verses, as coming from someone who is not colored by many of the Mennonite biases our church seems to be afflicted with.
@mikenpeg - I have hear all that before
They do agree that you should put on apparel do they not? They do not want the congregation going about nude. That verse is all about modesty is it not? It would not be modest for me to go out and send $2,500 on a dress but it is ok for me to go to goodwill and get a $3 dress that covers me nice. Now both may cover me properly and everything like that. But the one is immodest because it is outward adorning.
Wearing a wedding band is not immodest but wearing a ring or two on every finger is.
The Hebrews wore jewelry and clothes but they are being told do not be gaudy
@Kristenmomof3 - Yeah, that’s my opinion too. As one of the brothers in the church argued, “We have watches that cost more than a plain gold wedding band.” not to mention expensive suitcoats that cost $200! I think if gold is the issue, then why not wear a silver wedding band- you can get those?? But, no, the older guys in our church are all wrapped up in the fact that a wedding band is jewelry and Christians should not wear jewelry. The inconsistent thing about that is that we women and girls are allowed to freely use gold buttons, lace, edging, trimming, you-name-it on our dresses, and the men can wear gold watches and gold belt buckles- no problem.
Not sure how it will all pan out- my husband says the “conservatives” will win as they always do, since they are a lot more forceful and upset than the others.
@mikenpeg - my wedding band is “white gold” I have never been one that really likes the gold color
Not in my house. Besides, a prophet of God has said it is not appropriate for boys. That said, do what you choose, but consider the consequences.
I find you and your blog an example of what ever way the wind bloweth. You are one who genuinely ‘seems’ to desire to serve the Lord, but are not deeply grounded in HIm. I mean no offense, but advice from an older woman to a younger woman.
You go to extremes in your headcovering -yet post about an earring on a boy. The slave verse is very telling. It is saying that slaves have earrings. What do you really believe?
I understand some as you share that you are burdened and are a “cutter”. The Lord died for all of this. He died for your pain, for your searching to fit in somehow in a world when we are to be separate. He understands when you genuinely try to live the way the Lord desired of you, in your clothing, covering and modest dress. You need to accept that He paid the debt. You need to stop jumping from here and there on policy on clothing, on hair, on beards, on earrings and what ever and rest in Him.
Now I say all this because the one thing you have in common with every post is the LACK of conviction. You need to perhaps pull back and be the young mother and wife that you are to be. Stop trying to share with blogworld how you are a good servant and dutiful with covering etc, and instead get in the WORD and understand for yourself.(why? because if you are convicted then your children would be as you- in covering etc)
I have felt drawn to you since I discovered your blog, but to be honest your soul searching breaks my heart. I wish you were my daughter so I could hug you and share with you and listen to you and allow you to feel out what is what the Lord desires instead of exposing the wishy washy ness here.
You are so sweet and loving to your own. I say it is time for you to be what the Lord desires and pull back from the culture and worldly ways.
Jennifer in New Mexico
Yeah! Thats my choice too and I also like to wear a earring. It only suits to a person who have proper body and can do show off with it. Main thing is for men earrings is to wear it in a single ear only,.. I have seen a nice earring at Vintage yard too,..
Earrings were worn only on slaves. But I think if we read the text about piercing, tattoos, etc. then we need to see if we really are consistent. That means both women and men can not wear earrings, men should only have beards cut in a particular way, no laser hair removal, etc. I am thankful as a Christian that I am no longer enslaved to those “laws” as the Pharisees also had in the N.T. What bondage and slavery! We are told to dress modestly in Scripture, but does that mean that we only can wear dresses. I grew up that everyone had to wear dresses to church. That is okay. I am fine with that but they found short dresses more acceptable than a pair of dress pants on a woman. Then they used the text about women should not dress as a man, etc. but every culture is different. I have Korean friends who arrived here in Canada and considered wearing a dress quite provocative comparing to loose dress pants. In biblical times, the men and women wore clothes more like a sari. It is so sad that people feel in bondage to these laws that were fulfilled in Christ. Where is grace?